Camp Nou

Definitely one of the highlights of the entire trip, the trip to the FC Barcelona stadium! What an impressive building, with a huge arena that can sit about 89 thousand fans, or if standing room were allowed could fit over 110 thousand fans. That number of fans attending an American sports match is practically unheard of for games outside of the Superbowl. Our instructor Marcos walked us through a large room full of glass cases housing hundreds of trophies that FCB has won since its formation in 1899 by Hans Gamper. We also learned of the other sports teams that FCB has, including a basketball team, a rollerhockey team, and a handball team. The stadium was so giant, and with the club's motto 'Mes que un club' lettered on the seats it was easy to imagine the place packed with wild fans twice a week to watch their team play. I also learned that the FCB captain's armband is in the colors of the Catalan flag, a symbol of their independence that had been stifled under Franco's dictatorship. There was an interactive board in the museum part of the stadium which was very high tech, like a touch screen that would bring up different photos and descriptions of what was going on at that time with the club, or the players. We were even allowed to view the stadium's chapel, and the visiting team's locker rooms which were very nice, but I am sure not as nice as the Barcelona lockers. Definitely one of the better things I was able to visit this trip to Barcelona and it was so nice that it was a field trip so we had already paid the admission ticket fee in the cost of the program.